Sports

There was a time, not so long ago, when Ryan Sproul wasn't sure he'd ever play for the Soo Greyhounds.

"But I'm absolutely happy with my decision," said Sproul, shortly after being chosen by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round (55th overall) of Saturday's NHL Entry Draft in St. Paul, Minn.

The 18-year-old defenceman was the first of four Soo players selected in the two-day draft, which began with Round 1 Friday night.

Sproul, taken by the Hounds in the sixth-round of the 2009 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selections draft, was followed by centre Nick Cousins, who became Philadelphia Flyers property in Round 3 (68th overall).

And winger David Broll was taken by the Toronto Maple Leafs with the first choice of the sixth round (152nd overall).

"I was completely overwhelmed, shocked and excited," said Sproul, a six-foot-four, 190-pounder, who joined the Greyhounds early in the 2010-2011 season.

After attending the team's 2010 Prospect Orientation Camp in May and the main training camp in late August, he left the club early in September to consider his options.

"I was thinking of going to university," said Sproul, who'd been talking to the University of Michigan about playing for the Wolverines.

Sproul missed the Greyhounds exhibition season and first two games of the regular campaign.

But former Hounds general manager Dave Torrie, who'd offered Sproul a contract following the Prospect Camp, finally lured the Mississauga native to Sault Ste. Marie.

"The OHL, I thought, would be the quickest way to reach my dream, which is to get to the NHL," said Sproul, who scored 14 times, including eight on the power play, while adding 19 assists in 61 games as an OHL rookie.

Most of the offensive damage he did came in the second half of the season when Sproul's ice time increased.

Going into the draft ranked No. 54 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting, Sproul said he had no indication the Red Wings were especially interested.

"They interviewed me at the NHL Combine," said Sproul, one of just over 100 players invited to the combine, which began May 30 in Toronto. "But not again before the draft."

Sitting in the stands at the Xcel Energy Center, Sproul was stunned for a moment upon hearing his name called.

"I got up, took it in for a moment, hugged my family and then went down to the draft area," said Sproul, who was accompanied at the draft by his parents, Phil and Paulette, and his younger brother, Kyle.

Sproul met the Red Wings scouts and front office personnel before being led to an interview room where he spoke to members of the Detroit media.

"It's an amazing organization. They have a great reputation and always have a winning team," said Sproul, who'll take part in Detroit's prospects camp July 6. "This is absolutely just the beginning for me. It'll be a long summer with tons of hard work."

Asked what it felt like to be the first Soo player drafted in 2011, Sproul said he was very proud.

"Going up against Broll, Catenacci and Cousins - they've each had two years in the league," Sproul noted. "To be drafted ahead of them is incredible."

Sproul went on to thank Torrie for drafting him and coaxing him into coming to the Sault. Torrie was told in late March he wouldn't be returning after eight years on the job.

Sproul also thanked current GM Kyle Dubas and the entire Greyhounds organization.

"We're very proud of him," said Dubas, who replaced Torrie on April 15. "But more importantly, we're excited for him. It's always our goal to help our players become pros. And Ryan is going to one of the best organizations in sports."